Aggregation of Atlantis
The group of travelers stayed on track and safely delivered the message to the leopard tribe without any problems. Following his instructions, Wazingu left to return home and speak with Dimitar. He shared his plans with his older brother in hopes of receiving approval. Dimitar was pleased with the idea of his younger brother being away, ensuring that the coalition would be free from any drama. After receiving approval, Dimitar sent Wazingu back with supplies. The invitation was handed to the leopard king, and the lions promptly reunited with Wazingu on their journey back.
Under the shroud of darkness, the group advanced towards the elephants' land, then traveled to three additional kingdoms before pausing for rest. They first encountered the Adisa rhino herd, followed by the Jambo zebra herd, and lastly, the Nubia gazelle herd, conveniently located close to each other. The visits were brief as time was of the essence, with no opportunity to sit down for a meal with the kings. The purpose of their journey was clear to all, and they were allowed to continue on their path without interruption.
Having conquered seven kingdoms, there were still only sixteen remaining to explore. The adventure before them felt limitless. They took breaks for meals, hunting, and rest, yet most of their time was spent navigating through uncharted territories. Mazunga noted the changing landscapes as they entered each new kingdom.
Some were surrounded by dry cracked earth, others by grassy Savannah land, and some even had lush forests. One kingdom stood out with its wet and sandy surroundings, a unique experience for the small group visiting Atlantis, the whale shark tribe. No longer living fully submerged like their ancestors, they had transformed into new hybrid bodies and were unable to stay underwater as long, due to their new lungs, they were not built for such deep dives. Slash assumed that explained why they were breathing out of water during the meeting on Mount Sabyinyo. He remembered how they had transported a hefty bag filled with water skins. From time to time, they would take them out of the bag to pour the refreshing water over their skin or sip from the pouches. King Shani and his people had transformed significantly, creating a floating kingdom on top of the ocean's water that was truly awe-inspiring.
The traveling group gazed in awe at the walls enclosing the inner huts. Constructed from white marbled shells and dried coral harvested from the surrounding natural elements, the walls were adorned with bright green sea moss hanging like banners from the edges. Colorful conch shells were used as decorations for lanterns scattered throughout. The walls appeared to shimmer as the reflection of the water waltzed along one side. Several wooden floating bridges connected in a twisted labyrinth, leading to open doors and back out to the sandy beach where they stood in gazing out at the impressive construction. The whale shark aggregation appeared to be the most advanced of all the Kingdoms. Soon, greeting the visitors, was a warm, gentle giant who approached them with ease. He seemed to effortlessly glide on the water as he drew closer. His massive legs supported a powerful physique and broad shoulders. In his right hand, he tightly grasped the radiant spear gifted to him by Elohim four months prior.
"E como mai, Ohano." said King Shani, which meant 'Welcome, friend.'
Mazunga noticed his distinctive Samoan accent, both familiar and unique. Slash was the first to catch sight of his friend. He moved closer and gave Shani a big warm hug.
"Hello, my friend, it's great to see you. I've been eagerly awaiting this delivery for days," Slash said.
"You remembered what we said, you have a great memory" replied Slash.
"Of course, Bruh, your words are important to me as is our friendship and my mind isn't too bad either." he responded with a chuckle.
On the night of the King's meeting, Slash and Shani formed a strong bond. Slash had expressed his excitement for the upcoming ceremony honoring the King. He had received this information earlier from his leader, Queen Saharah, who had kept it a secret from Zarda at the time. Their kingdoms, along with many others, gathered on Mount Sabyinyo to share stories of old and of the new transformations. Each animal had a unique experience. It was Slash who had immediately connected with Shani, recognizing him as a free spirit and gentle giant, just as Elohim had described. Shani spread joy and goodwill to all, even the crocodiles. Their shared likes and dislikes brought them closer together, leading to an alliance between the two. Inspired by their example, several other animals also formed alliances that night. It was peril they made such bonds, in times to come with all the new changes they needed to know who friend was and who was still foe.
" So, what brings you here, friend?" Asked Shani, with a big smile.
Before Slash replied, he gazed upon his spectacular friend. Seeing a man with a whale shark's head was a strange sight. His skin was a blend of navy blue and gray, dotted with white spots across his back and arms. The area from his chin, chest down to his stomach was a pale white, while his muscular thighs, visible under a sarong made of sea kelp, matched the rest of his dark complexion. A massive first dorsal fin adorned his back, with a small caudal fin peeking out from beneath the sarong. This creature was truly impressive to behold.
"We have arrived to deliver an invitation to you and your queen from our queen and Prince Zarda for his upcoming coronation," responded the elderly lion.
Shani replied promptly. "Ohano, kole Maluna, shaka mahalo,"
Their custom was to say "bottoms up" instead of cheers, showing gratitude to their friends. King Shani's aggregation had relocated from Hawaii to Africa many years ago, and they had embraced their new home wholeheartedly, never turning back. Their unique traditions and way of speaking set them apart from others.
Shani said, "I'm thrilled, Bruh, I'll definitely come. I wouldn't miss it for anything you know me. I love a good gathering for feasting and comraderies. Please stay and have some food, I insist."
Slash didn't hesitate to accept an invitation from Shani. He wanted to spend as much time as possible with his good friend. Gratefully, he accepted the kind invitation and remembered to give Shani the king's invitation. The four of them had a delightful evening with Shani and his family. King Shani led his friend and companions to his comfortable hut, where the enticing aroma of freshly cooked food greeted them. Laughter reverberated within the walls as stories filled the air. Shani's infectious laughter was so loud that it shook the table. Before their arrival, the queen's mistress had prepared scrumptious roasted sea bass kabobs accompanied by a light seagrass salad and warm crab rolls.
"Warrior slash, allow me to present my beautiful bride and family. Meet Queen Leialoha Kalili, whose name means beloved child to our people. Beside her is our eldest son Keoni, followed by his younger brother Laka Aloha, and the newest addition to our family, baby daughter Malaea Kiana." Shared King Shani. "Family, this is Ohano, warrior slash, Apologies, friend, but you will have to share the names of your party. I do not know them." Said Shani.
Slash nodded in reassurance that there was no offense taken. He was too caught up in the moment of embracing his friend that he had forgotten to properly introduce them until just now.
Slash held his palm up towards his companions and said, "Hello family, this is Matiti and mazunga, the warriors in training. This beside them is our newest member, a Cheetah elite named Wazingu from the Zimbabee coalition," replied Slash.
Shani's family warmly greeted everyone with wide smiles, just like their father. The queen, Leialoha Kalili, was the last to welcome them. She was a stunning whale shark with a dark aqua color and a beige stripe running down her front. Her curves were accentuated between her covered breasts and exposed stomach. She had a small, round face with long wavy black hair, lavender eyes, and a gentle smile. Despite being plus-sized, she had an hourglass figure like most females. She was truly a magnificent creature, thought Shani. Slash observed that she remained quiet after that, except for gently correcting her misbehaving son's.
"Wife, we've been invited to prince Zarda's coronation. Isn't that wonderful news," Announced Shani.
"Oh, that does sound wonderful. Unfortunately, I can't venture too far from the bay because I'm nursing. But our sons should go with you, E ko'u aloha," she replied sincerely.
Shani responded, "Excellent suggestion. I will also bring my guardian Zyreh."
Shani asked his sons to go walk their mother and sister to bed and turn in for the night. Dinner was finished, and it was time for the company to leave. As everyone, including Shani, left the table, they all couldn't help but look up and admire the beautiful colors in the sky above the ocean. It was a truly magical sight. Slash and the rest of the group followed Shani out onto the front dock, gazing up at the stunning view. Slowly, Slash moved up beside his whale friend, resting his hands behind his back. The peaceful sound of waves breaking upon the rocks nearby was a gentle reminder of why the whale aggregation had chosen this spot.
"I'm delighted that you came to visit, my friend. It has been a long four months. You and your company are always welcome to come back," Shani said.
Slash gave his friend another big hug before pulling away and leading his group into the darkness of the night. The cool ocean breeze felt refreshing on their backs as they moved further away from the beach, the temperature gradually rising as they walked. Wazingu swiftly moved up next to Slash, staying in rhythm with the old lion as they advanced. Wazingu then focused his gaze on Slash's aged face.
"I enjoyed meeting your friend the king; I never knew sharks could be so friendly," said Wazingu.
"Of course he's friendly, he's a whale shark. It's just their nature. Have you never encountered a shark before, especially not the majestic King Shani?" Inquired Slash.
Wazingu timidly shook his head, feeling a bit embarrassed. He had never visited the ocean before, and his knowledge of it was solely based on stories he had been told as a cub. He found excitement in hearing about the amazing adventures of the other coalition members, living vicariously through them. Slash chuckled lightly at the young cheetah. The old lion searched the area around him looking for a suitable place to stop for the night.
Slash said, "Let's establish our camp for the evening. After a good night's rest, we'll depart early in the morning to find the Beric herd."
"Mazunga chose to stay overnight with his friend Wazingu, as the cheetah had brought a shelter for both of them from home. They quickly set up together, while Slash worked on starting a fire to keep everyone warm. Soon, they were all fast asleep in their temporary shelters. The night's darkness enveloped them under the starry sky. As they dreamt of peaceful tomorrows."